Mount Vernon Middle School presented Veterans Day Breakfast “Serving Those Who Served Us.” Veterans and their families attended the event honoring the brave people who fought for America. The veterans and their families were honored on Thursday, Nov. 9 at the Mount Vernon Middle School Commons.
During the almost 2-hour program, the veterans’ hearts were filled with appreciation from several students and teachers as well. Mount Veron Middle School 8th grader Kylie Woods welcomed the attendees.
“We're here today to honor service members and to remember the sacrifices they made and the courage it takes to defend honor, duty, and country,” Woods said. “The writer Michelle Deonte once said ‘Valor is stability not of legs and arms but of courage in the soul.’”
“We're here today to honor our heroes and to remember their achievements, their courage and their dedication, and to say thank you for their sacrifices. Thinking of the heroes who join us in the group today and those who are here only in spirit, a person can't help but feel awed by the enormity of what we encounter. We stand in the midst of patriots and family and friends of those who have nobly served.”
The event which was attended by 407 people, was also in honor of those who have sacrificed their lives for America. Images of 14 veterans from Ohio were exhibited during the event. They were Sgt. Harlen N. Lockhart (Mount Vernon), SP/4 Stephen Lynn Colopy (Danville), CPL Robert Lester Carter (Fredericktown), Sgt. William L. McHamon (Fredericktown), 1st Lt. Dennis Kinnard (Mount Vernon), PFC David Lee Carey (Danville), PFC Walter L. Ensign Jr. (Fredericktown), PFC Roger Dean Algire (Mount Vernon), CPL Wayne Eric Garven (Mount Vernon), SP/4 Richard Louis Still (Mount Vernon), SP/5 Billy Lee Peters (Mount Vernon), Sgt. Daniel Richard Hively (Danville), Capt. Peter Hayden Chapman II (Centerburg), and Sgt. Guy V. “Buddy” Fearn (Fredericktown).
An empty table was dedicated to honoring missing comrades in arms for veterans with five empty places representing Americans still missing from each of the five services: Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Artworks of American flags, salutes, and veteran dogs were displayed at the venue, including thank you letters. Breakfast was served during the program while members of the Mount Vernon High School Orchestra played music for the guests.
At the gathering, excerpts from the "Patriots Pen" submissions were shared, featuring essays from a VFW-backed competition open to youth nationwide. The competition prompted participants from Mount Vernon Middle School to contemplate and express their personal reflections, experiences, and thoughts on the inspiration they draw from America and what makes the country truly remarkable.
“When we sat down to write this essay, we also considered the sacrifices of our veterans who have fought for our country to protect our nation and what it stands for,” one student said.
“America inspires me because of what America fights for every day and our service men and women give such great sacrifice for our country so that America can enjoy the freedom that we are so privileged to have,” another student stated. “This inspires me to fight for what I believe in even in the toughest of situations and to help others in their causes too. America inspires me to be a better person.”
The Mount Vernon Veterans Day Breakfast concluded with a solemn outdoor ceremony dedicated to honoring those who sacrificed everything for freedom's cause.
